Who are the Biggest Influences in Gaming Today?

We normally talk about arcade games here at The GameRoom Blog, but we cannot deny there are some amazing developments in modern gaming.

This post will look at some of the more interesting recent figures that are pushing the envelope and changing the world of games.

When it comes to the biggest people in gaming, the list is always changing. The games that people deem important are constantly in flux, and those who wield the power have to tread a fine line between producing games that fans will love and games that maintain the brand’s identity.

Phone Zombies

One of the most influential companies involved in gaming in the past several years is Niantic — the developers of Pokémon Go.

I was at the Santa Monica Pier one gorgeous day and was frustrated by kids constantly bumping into me. They were too engulfed in their phones to walk in straight lines or see other people they were walking into.

None of these kids were paying attention to any of the cool things happening at the pier and instead were frozen into their phones like zombies. It was bizarre and almost like something out of Black Mirror.

I had to ask my son if he could explain this phenomenon and he did not hesitate to clue me in:

“Everybody is addicted to Pokémon Go.”

Pokémon Go was one of the biggest gaming phenomena, with streets swamped with people trying to catch them all, and Nintendo’s share rising 200% as a result.

Harry Potter Wizards Unite, which will be released late 2018 aims to follow suit. The Harry Potter franchise is obviously monstrous, and this video game could be as big as Pokémon Go.

Niantic’s was one of the first to make AR technology in a mainstream game fun.

Nintendo’s Amazing Comeback

The Nintendo Switch has been a huge success. Nintendo can still innovate with the best of them.

While the idea of a portable that can easily be connected to your TV is nothing new, they finally got it perfect this time.

Amazon also has a hand in gaming with Amazon Game Studios. While their games may be fresh to the market, their CEO Jeff Bezos is a man that wields great power and talent, especially considering he made the leap from millionaire to billionaire in just two years according to Betway Casino. I am never betting against Bezos, he is a next-level CEO with few peers.

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, also continues to fly the flag for gaming, following an extremely popular run of iPhone games, the latest being 2017’s Fortnite, an MMO available through iOS that all of these kids seemed hooked on right now.

Code Wizards

David Jones

David Jones invented the Grand Theft Auto series. These games not only managed to develop a cult following and a slew of sequels, but figures predict that GTA V will have sold 62 million copies by the end of 2018.

Jones’ latest hit is the Crackdown series, which he developed, and which sold 1.5 million copies in the first six months alone. While having no input in the sequel, Jones returned to helm 2018’s Crackdown 3.

Satoshi Tajiri

Satoshi Tajiri deserves a mention as someone influential in gaming for the fact that he invented Pokémon. While he stepped back to Executive Producer role in 2003, he still oversees one of the most successful gaming franchises.

More than 300 million games have been sold worldwide overall since the launch of Red and Blue in 1996. Both Jones and Tajiri helped developed franchises that have changed the shape of gaming and continue to do so today. Just because their games are in their twenties, that doesn’t mean their influence is waning in 2018.

Palmer Luckey

Possibly one of the biggest influences in gaming as we roll into 2018 and beyond is Palmer Luckey. At just 21, Luckey invented VR hardware Oculus Rift.

He worked non-stop to finally develop a virtual reality headgear that had so little lag that it “worked”.

But not only has Luckey been influential in the gaming sphere, the development of VR technology may also benefit greater infrastructure such as medical developments or choosing which house to buy.

Indeed, VR might even revolutionize the pinball experience. As VR gaming takes off in the next few years, it is ultimately down to Luckey, who pushed things forward.

When it comes to gaming, there are many people who hold the power and influence. Some are influential in various areas of gaming technology, while others are influential in narratives and characters for certain games or gameplay functionality.